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ANCYL lambastes "state capture" report

Xinhua, November 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) on Friday lambasted the "state capture" report, calling it "one-sided" and "riddled with gossip."

"We remain convinced that the drama surrounding its release was quite unnecessary. In our view, this is a one-sided report, riddled with gossip, innuendo, hearsay, untested evidence to say the least," the organization said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.

The report, compiled by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and released on Wednesday, sheds light on how the wealthy Gupta family may have influenced appointment of South African cabinet ministers and several board directors at state-owned enterprises, including electricity utility Eskom, weapon manufacturer Denel, South Africa Airways (SAA) and transport giant Transnet.

The 355-page report nails President Jacob Zuma, his son, Duduzane, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des Van Rooyen and Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane, amongst others.

Van Rooyen and Zwane were appointed in 2015 as a result of undue influence by the Guptas, according to the report.

"It is of grave concern that some of the key individuals implicated in this report were not even given the slightest opportunity to present their side of the story. This behavior and style of execution of the Public Protector's duties is questionable and goes against the 'audi alteram partem rule', which is guaranteed in our Constitution," the ANCYL said.

The organization questioned Madonsela why she opted to conveniently finalize an incompetent and half-baked report, rushing to release her findings whil she was fully aware that she had failed to conduct a fair and thorough investigation.

The Guptas, along with Zuma, have came under fire after Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas and former Member of Parliament Vytjie Mentor said early this year that they were offered cabinet positions by the Guptas.

The ANCYL is of the view that any investigation into the litany of allegations and subsequent complaints of "state capture" before the Public Protector should have included an investigation into the decades-long state capture by the white monopoly capital.

"If former Public Protector's intention was to truly and comprehensively investigate and expose state capture in South Africa, how come is the published report silent on the role of white monopoly capital in capturing South Africa?" the ANCYL asked.

The organization called on all implicated individuals, directly or indirectly, to take this report on judicial review as privileged by the Constitution.

"We are particularly interested in a range of constitutionality issues that this report will most definitely spark fierce debate right up to the Constitutional Court, especially in as far as the powers of the Public Protector and the Head of State are concerned," ANCYL national spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said. Endit